Despite thunderstorms in the area, the Tigers scrimmaged for more than two hours under the lights of Jordan-Hare Stadium, and according to Cox, the offense's improvement was obvious.

"We definitely improved," said Cox. "We were a lot more physical. We had a problem in the last scrimmage not converting on third-and-short and fourth-and-short, and, for the most part, we did that tonight. We converted on the goal line, too."

Cox said he threw one touchdown pass, a 15-yarder to WR Robert Dunn, didn't throw any interceptions and wasn't sacked. He took all the snaps with the first-team, and also connected with Dunn for a "40- or 50-yard" completion.

"I thought we competed a lot better offensively," said head coach Tommy Tuberville. "We scored some touchdowns. We moved the ball all over the field, like normal. Early, we took the ball and drove it and scored. We looked sharp on the passing game and the running game.

***Auburn had college officials work the scrimmage. The Tigers worked on a new rule, which allows just 15 seconds to snap the ball coming out of a T.V. timeout.

"We only had a few penalties, a few alignment penalties, which are good to know," said Tuberville. "We worked a lot on the kicking game with alignments, and the officials did a good job of explaining a lot of things to us."

***According to Groves, true freshman Antoine Carter continued his strong play this fall in Friday's scrimmage.

"Antoine got to go in with the one's some on goal line," said Groves. "He found out what kind of world it is with the one's. It's kind of different then playing with the two's. I think he held his own in there."

***Auburn hosted two of the country's top overall recruits Friday night on an unofficial visit. Gadsden City (Ala.) four-star LB Jerrell Harris and 2009 CB Dre Kirpatrick were both on-hand for the scrimmage.

***The Tigers return to practice Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. AU will also practice Sunday afternoon before getting another day off Monday. On Tuesday, the coaches will put together a scout team and begin preparations for Kansas State

"We want to pretty much by Tuesday have a two-deep going when we start practicing scout team," said Tuberville. "There'll be some three's that work with two's and back-and-forth, but we'll start cutting it down a little bit."